People say that if you haven’t yet been to the Australian Outback, you haven’t really experienced the real Australia. Well, there is for sure a lot to discover in this stunning country of continental dimensions, where you can find enormous diversity in terms of people and nature from north to south. But the Outback remains a very special spot: one of the very few large natural areas remaining on Earth, along with the Amazon Forest, the Sahara Desert and the boreal forests and tundra.

WHY VISIT THE OUTBACK?

1. Stargazing

The Outback is known as one of the best places on Earth to stargaze, as it is very remote and has no light pollution. You can even do a guided tour at Ayers Rock Resort with the resort’s astronomer, using telescopes, binoculars and iPads.

2. Aboriginal Culture

Aboriginals are known as the world's oldest surviving civilisation, and are keen to share their story allowing visitors to gain a deeper appreciation of Australia’s aboriginal culture.

3. The Red Centre

The Red Centre is a huge landscape area covered with rock formations, deserts, mountains and sacred sites such as the famous Uluru and Kata Tijuta. Definitely worth a visit!

4.Camping in the desert

One of the most incredible experiences you get to do in the Outback, in the middle of the desert's untamed wilderness.

OUTBACK FACTS:

• The outback includes the desert regions of the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia.

• It takes up around 70% of the country’s landmass and is populated by only 3% - more than a quarter of that population is Indigenous.

• The famous outback town, Alice Springs, is the outback’s capital.

• The term “Outback” first appeared in the 19th Century, to refer to places that were “out the back of ‘X place’”.

Even though people say that Outback is hard to define, we disagree: the Outback is a place full of life: savannahs, deserts, mountains and the brightest stars you’ll ever see.

1932

the Sydney Harbour Bridge opened to the public

The event marked the end of almost a century of speculation and planning around a bridge or tunnel that would cross the harbour.

In 1922 the New South Wales Parliament passed the Sydney Harbour Bridge Act and preparation for the building got underway.

Construction began on the approaches to the span in 1923 and on the bridge itself in 1925. More than 1600 people worked on the bridge during its construction.

In 2017 more than 200 trains, 160,000 vehicles and 1900 bikes used the bridge every day.

FABIO Mureddu

Age: 25

Field: Engineering

City: Brisbane

Nationality: Italian

Why did you choose to complete an Internship?

I have decided to undertake this program for two main reasons: primarily, to have a feel of what it's like to work as an engineer and have to face challenges and solve real problems. The second reason is because I wanted to gain work experience in my field while here in Australia, as I believe it to be almost essential to find employment here, especially if you have an international background.

What have you learned the most during your internship?

Other than developing a few technical skills, I have understood what it really feels like to work in a team and to have responsibilities and deadlines to meet. I have also learned that your university background is only in part relevant to your future professional life: I've seen many examples in my firm of people who majored in a particular area of engineering but ended up working in a different department. This taught me that your skills, experience and personal preferences contribute more in shaping you as a professional than your degree does.

What benefits do you feel AI contributed to your internship and time in Australia?

Australian Internships has definitely played an important role in this program: they have helped me find an internship in an area of my choice, which could be a difficult and time-consuming task if carried out without the proper experience. They have also been keeping track of my progress and are always available in case I have any doubts or perplexities.

What advice would you give future interns?

· Try to learn as much as you possibly can during your time as an intern, as the competences you'll develop will help you find employment in the future.

· Always act professionally and take this as an opportunity to discover what you like and where you'd like to be as a future professional.

· Keep a positive attitude and always be available to help anyone when they ask you.

· Keep written track of your progress as you will be given a variety of tasks and you won't be able to remember every single one of them.

What do you enjoy most about Australia?

I definitely enjoy the weather and the friendliness of people. I also like how diverse it is in terms of ethnicities and how abundant it is in nature. From a professional point of view, I like the work culture where all employees are treated with consideration and are entitled to have a good work-life balance.Overall, Australia offers in my opinion great career opportunities and, at the same time, the chance to travel and explore an immense continent, filled with beautiful beaches and the most unique wildlife.

Linda Harrison

ACCOUNTS MANAGER

Introduction

I am a Brisbane local having spent most of my life in and around Brisbane. I live about 1.5 hours from Brisbane in a small town where I love the space, peace and quiet. I have worked with accounts/finance and client service for over 10 years. My true passion in life is family being a proud mum of two, and grandmother of 5 grandsons.

How would you describe your work?

I am responsible for all the accounts and bookkeeping at Australian Internships. I take care of invoicing, paying all the bills, taxation and all accounts related tasks. I also make sure that all our interns are enrolled in insurance before they start their internship.

What do you like the most about your work?

I love making relationships with people and getting thing done! I am a perfectionist and love to get thing done! I love the sense of accomplishment at the end of the day knowing that everything important has been actioned.

Your message to the interns?

Life is short! Make the most of every moment. Smile… dance in the rain… live… love… and learn what you can!

THE ROCKS FRIDAY FOODIE MARKET

Every Friday the air comes alive with the sights, scents and sounds of street food being served. Fragrant smoke lingers gently in the air, and local produce sizzle to perfection, and sweet treats are lovingly prepared by talented providores.

World Science Festival

World Science Festival explores and celebrates the entanglement of science and art through a curated program of thought-provoking conversations, inspiring theatrical and cinematic experiences, interactive workshops and engaging demonstrations.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival – held in March/April every year – is impossible to miss. As the third-largest international comedy festival in the world, MICF boasts more than 400 shows to choose from.

Bleech Festival

The Gold Coast’s biggest art and cultural festival, the Bleach* Festival program will sweep from the Southern Gold Coast across the city, bringing an artistic celebration of everything there is to love about our coastal lifestyle.

Hervey Bay

Hervey Bay is an aquatic paradise north of Brisbane and one of the best places in Australia to experience nature in the wild. The safe, sheltered waters of Hervey Bay make it ideal for year-round water sports, from swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving to sailing and fishing.

Whitsunday Islands

The Whitsunday Islands are an archipelago of 74 tropical islands (most of them uninhabited national park islands ) just off the Queensland coast. The Great Barrier Reef protects the islands from large swells, making them ideal for sailing, swimming, snorkelling and relaxing.

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